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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage

Coup de grace - Coup de gras

I always thought that the "coup de gras" pronunciation was just another Australian aberration, like a pigment of the imagination or a mere bag of tails.
Accordingly, I was surprised to hear a CNN reporter refer to a "coup de gras".
One can only assume that the victim was slapped in the face with a glove soaked in chicken fat or the equivalent.
How common is this, I suppose hyper-correction, in WestPondia?

Izzy
  

Top answer

[nq:1]I always thought that the "coup de gras" pronunciation was just another Australian aberration, like a pigment of the imagination ... face with a glove soaked in chicken fat or the equivalent. [/nq] I have always supposed it to be a hyper-correction with "mardi gras" in mind.

— Usenet

  • [nq:1]I always thought that the "coup de gras" pronunciation was just another Australian aberration, like a pigment of the imagination ...
  • face with a glove soaked in chicken fat or the equivalent.
  • [/nq] I have always supposed it to be a hyper-correction with "mardi gras" in mind.
  • But I have also heard Brits say it.
  • It is also common (in these parts) to hear the "de" mispronounced, making it "coo day graw".
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47 Answers
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[nq:1]I always thought that the "coup de gras" pronunciation was just another Australian aberration, like a pigment of the imagination ... face with a glove soaked in chicken fat or the equivalent. How common is this, I suppose hyper-correction, in WestPondia?[/nq]
I have always supposed it to be a hyper-correction with "mardi gras" in mind. But I have also heard Brits say it.
It is also c
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[nq:1]I always thought that the "coup de gras" pronunciation was just another Australian aberration, like a pigment of the imagination ... face with a glove soaked in chicken fat or the equivalent. How common is this, I suppose hyper-correction, in WestPondia?[/nq]
Pretty common, IME.

Steny '08!
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[nq:2]I always thought that the "coup de gras" pronunciation was ... equivalent. How common is this, I suppose hyper-correction, in WestPondia?[/nq]
[nq:1]I have always supposed it to be a hyper-correction with "mardi gras" in mind. But I have also heard Brits say it.[/nq]
The "mardi gras" connection doesn't seem so likely to me. In CINC AmE, SFAIK, "Mardi Gras" has the "caught" vowel ("gr
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[nq:1]I always thought that the "coup de gras" pronunciation was just another Australian aberration, like a pigment of the imagination ... face with a glove soaked in chicken fat or the equivalent. How common is this, I suppose hyper-correction, in WestPondia?[/nq]
I use it all the time when referring to my lawn tractor which is so named - and with a hard "p" on "coup".
Jitze
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[nq:2]I always thought that the "coup de gras" pronunciation was ... equivalent. How common is this, I suppose hyper-correction, in WestPondia?[/nq]
[nq:1]I use it all the time when referring to my lawn tractor which is so named - and with a hard "p" on "coup". Jitze[/nq]
That appears to be chiefly Scottish, according to MWCD, unless you spell it "coupe."
Mike G.
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[nq:1]The "mardi gras" connection doesn't seem so likely to me. In CINC AmE, SFAIK, "Mardi Gras" has the "caught" vowel ... say "coup de gras" would pronounce the "gras" with the father/cot vowel. Thus, the two "gras"-es are a minimal pair.[/nq]
They both have /A/ for me. MWCD11 gives /A/ for "Mardi Gras", with the note "in New Orleans commonly -/,grO/".

Evan Kirshenbaum + HP Laborato
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[nq:2]I use it all the time when referring to my lawn tractor which is so named - and with a hard "p" on "coup".[/nq]
Great idea, I'll name mine 'coupe de gras' too,
if I ever get one.
[nq:2]Jitze[/nq]
[nq:1]That appears to be chiefly Scottish, according to MWCD, unless you spell it "coupe."[/nq]
You missed a joke,
Jan

"En
juin
worden
alle
Fransen
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[nq:2]I have always supposed it to be a hyper-correction with "mardi gras" in mind. But I have also heard Brits say it.[/nq]
[nq:1]The "mardi gras" connection doesn't seem so likely to me. In CINC AmE, SFAIK, "Mardi Gras" has the "caught" vowel ... say "coup de gras" would pronounce the "gras" with the father/cot vowel. Thus, the two "gras"-es are a minimal pair.[/nq]
The problem is not th
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[nq:2]The "mardi gras" connection doesn't seem so likely to me. ... father/cot vowel. Thus, the two "gras"-es are a minimal pair.[/nq]
[nq:1]They both have /A/ for me. MWCD11 gives /A/ for "Mardi Gras", with the note "in New Orleans commonly -/,grO/".[/nq]
Must be regional then. In New York City English, certainly, it's "Mardi Graw". Young Joey?

Steny '08!
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[nq:1]Great idea, I'll name mine 'coupe de gras' too, if I ever get one.[/nq]
[nq:2]That appears to be chiefly Scottish, according to MWCD, unless you spellit "coupe."[/nq]
[nq:1]You missed a joke,[/nq]
Happens. Frequently. Or perhaps you failed to see the tongue...

Mike G.
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